Target

Soooo, I pretty much want all ten of the lace cami’s I have linked below. Why? Because they are an excellent transitional and layering piece to your wardrobe. You can layer them under a suit, blazer, jean jacket or cardigan and look amazingly chic. I’m all about pushing thru and giving a little chic to my wardrobe. I stumbled across this one at Nordstrom Rack and fell in love with how soft it was and the lace detail in the back of the tank. It doesn’t take much to make this cami look gorgeous and work with any outfit.

When I put together my outfit looks for the blogs, often times I have NO CLUE on what to wear. Its hilarious to me that as often as I shop or receive certain things for the blog that I still have no clue what to wear. The night before this shoot when I was pulling looks, I was so tired and over it. I was like girl throw that together and call it a day and go to bed. Well, look how cute it all came together! A lace cami is exactly why you need one or two in your closet for those moments where you want an instant outfit and move on with your life. Pair them with boyfriend jeans, culottes, midi skirts or wide leg pants and you are winning honey, winning!

I hope you enjoyed this look. Let me know if you add any of these adorable cami’s to your wardrobe!

Stay tuned for Thursday’s blog post. I have another NYFW look for you to see!

Y’all, I have been so out of order! Since Thanksgiving I have been eating all kinds of mess. I know I am not alone! Cakes, pies, sweets, fried foods and all kinds of foolishness. One thing I have learned since turning 30, my body is NOT the same as it was when I was younger. I’ve always been a thin girl. Matter of fact, in high school I was called “FM 98,” (a radio station in Detroit) because I weighed 98 pounds back then lol. But, when your stomach has turned into a “gut” thats a real problem. I can’t be out here looking preggo when I am not. LOL. Don’t worry though, because 1/2/17 I am gonna get my life back right! Until then, I am gonna enjoy this food!

Anyways, I ordered this tie sleeve sweater dress and honey it’s so forgiving! It’s such a throw on and head out the door type dress. Which is just what I need! The tie sleeve trend has been big lately. But, I loved that I found the trend in a tie sleeve sweater dress. I mean, who doesn’t need more dresses?! Its affordable too! I wore this dress to a holiday party and felt so comfortable! How are you loving these fishnet/ lace tights? I think I got them from Kohl’s years ago and this was my first time wearing them. I really liked pairing it with this dress and booties for more of a monochromatic look! I am definitely considering buying more tights to spice up my outfits. I’ve linked several cute pairs for you below! So check them out!!

I hope you have an amazing weekend ahead. I have dinner plans Friday and brunch plans on Sunday. Yep, more eating! I’m telling you guys, I am gonna pull it together for next year. January is my birthday and I gotta be 35 and fine, ok!

What to wear to the airport? The night before my trip, I ask myself this question because its quite important. Comfort is key and it’s especially important if I am traveling with Camille. The days of wearing heels to the airport are long gone for me. I tried that a few times and regretted it immediately. Since then I would reach for flats, but now that I have a child, sneakers it is! I am not a sneakers kind of girl, so thats saying something if they are a must-have for me when traveling. I need to be able to move about comfortably, have great foot support, be able to quickly put my shoes on and ready to carry my child in the event the stroller is just not her jam that day. Thats that mom life for you!

Anyhoo, this look is perfect for travel! This sweater is super soft and great for layering. I realize its now fall/winter for some of you where you life. But, you can easily layer with a leather or suede jacket, a thin long sleeve or thermal underneath this sweater, a scarf and you are good to go. My leather leggings are super comfortable too. The back of them are fabric so it gives me great mobility and stretch. These are old Forever 21 leggings, I have linked a few for you below as well.

For those mommies out there who are nursing (boy I know all about that, I nursed for a year) this top is perfect to wear when traveling with your baby. You can wear your nursing bra or tank underneath and easily reach under to unsnap. The neck is also wide enough to where you can peep inside to see baby! I know how those nursing capes are, Camille hated being under one. But, with this one being an actual sweater, that makes it near impossible to do unless your little has super strength. Who am I kidding? Most of them do lol.

Most importantly, you need a good tote bag to carry all of your gear. The St. Anne totefrom Barrington Gifts is a great travel companion. I carried it on our trip to New York and loved it. Its very roomy! I stuffed lots of things inside and still had room. For me, its always important to have pockets in a tote bag. This one does not disappoint, there are side pockets that held my phone, cell phone charger, card case and a few more things. Most importantly, I loved that I was able to customize my tote bag! I chose the print, color of the leather straps, monogram style and color of the stripe too!! I am all for making pieces my own!! Don’t you? Barrington Gifts also has great diaper bag options as well in case you are interested! So check them out!

I hope this post has given you style inspiration on what to wear to the airport. Traveling is fun, but we want to be at our most comfortable as well. Who knows how far away your gate is from security or how long you are standing in the security line right? But, you can still look pulled together and comfortable at the same time! Thats how I like to travel. In style!!

What are some of your go to looks on what to wear to the airport? Please share!!

Disclosure: Alwayz Fashionably Late may participate in sponsored posts. Items marked with a (*) have been sponsored. Please trust that all views and opinions provided are my own! I strive on being completely honest with my readers and audience!

What to Wear to the Airport Featuring Barrington Gifts! was last modified: March 21st, 2018 by Tanika Green

I swear I cant have too many leather jackets. Each year I look for another leather jacket that I will fall in love with. A great leather jacket makes it so easy to look well put together. They are one of my favorite fall fashion staples! I picked this one up at a local consignment shop here in Dallas called Refinery Consignment for a steal!! As soon as I saw this BCBG jacket I snatched it off the rack and ran to try it on. Oh and the shoes too, I know you are salivating over these beauties! They are by L.A.M.B. and are another Refinery Consignment steal. If you are in town, definitely check this store out for great designer pieces at affordable prices! I need to stop in soon myself to see what other goodies I can find!

Jackets and coats are some of my favorite wardrobe pieces to buy actually. Why? It could be because I am a Midwest girl. I remember every fall my mom and I would go shopping for a new coat. I would always get so excited for a new winter coat and I still do! I’ve linked a few great leather jackets for you below as my jacket I cannot find online. These jackets are on my wish list and that hunter green one is calling my name!!!

This maxi dress right here?! This right here?! Yes, its my most favorite maxi dress this summer and possibly my most favorite ever. I can sing its praises all day long. I love how it flows and flares out as I walk. Even the slightest turn and it spins beautifully around my legs. It also has a drawstring waist to cinch and accentuate curves. But, you know why I really love it right? Yes, the off shoulder detail gives me all of the feels! It takes this dress up a notch and I am here for it. Since I have gotten the dress, I have worn it countless times. I’ve worn it to run errands, shopping and dressed it up for a brunch event with lace up heels. I always receive SOOOOO many compliments when I wear this dress. You MUST BUY THIS DRESS! ASAP!

I am so excited because next week I am going on a girls trip for some much needed fun!! Its always good to have some fun with your friends and unwind. Its time to start packing and I am working on a quick post on what I like to pack in my carry on bag. I always like to get ideas of what people like to pack when traveling. So I hope to be able to do this for you and share a few of my travel necessities. So stay tuned!

Scoliosis. A word I have dealt with since the age of 12. I hated that word, HATED it! Hated to say it, hated to see it, hated to deal with it!! Scoliosis is defined as “a lateral curvature of the spine.” Basically, your spine is not 100% straight. You may have an upper curvature or a lower curvature. For me, it was upper and my curvature was over 50 “degrees,” as they call it. Essentially, I have a hump on the right side of my shoulder, which caused one shoulder to be higher than the other. You could also tell by how I walked, as it looked like I was leading with the right side of my body. I wasn’t bent over like a hobbit or anything, but you could definitely notice. Talk about not starting off so good with self-confidence as a pre-teen! Not great!

I’ll never forget the day. My mother was getting on me for a while about not standing up straight when I walked and stand. As a 12 year old, this was the least of my concerns. One day we were in the basement and my mom told me to come here. She turned me around and looked down the back of my shirt and said, “Oh my God.” I didn’t understand what was happening, what did she see? “Nikki, (my nickname) you have a big hump on the right side of your shoulder.” What was she talking about? My mom immediately called my pediatrician and booked an appointment for me to come in. We saw my doctor that week. He leaned me over and measured my spine. Thats when he said the word, “Scoliosis.” I was scared, I didn’t know what it meant and if it was something very bad.

He referred me to many doctors: Orthopedic surgeons, Scoliosis specialists and any other doctor necessary. They all confirmed his diagnosis. Again, my curve was over 50 degrees. Quite noticeable! Imagine a scale being at “0.” Now think of that scale tipping 50 degrees to the right. Quite a significant difference don’t you think?? My mom and I asked, where did this come from? Its no real answer, its a bit common actually. Some people develop a curvature and some don’t. So how do you treat it? I had to wear a HARD, UNCOMFORTABLE, HOT, plastic brace that went from under my breast to right below my hips. It made me walk straighter, but very stiff. It was so hard to even breathe in that thing. The brace prevents the curve from going further but thats about it. To fix this issue, I would have to have spinal surgery.

See that long scar down my back in this picture? That is my “battle scar” as my husband calls it. I stopped wearing the brace not long after I got it because it was so uncomfortable and I hated it. I resolved someday to get the surgery and call it a day. Fast forward to college, I was coming to the age (21) where I would no longer be covered under my parents insurance. So my parents and I discussed getting the surgery before that happened. We saw many doctors and they reviewed with me what to expect, potential outcomes and I even watched a little video describing the surgery. Whats funny is that my surgeon was a Children’s Orthopedic Surgeon. So there I was, my grown self in the waiting room with kids running around. LOL. But, it had to happen. I couldn’t go on with this ugly curve!

The day of my surgery was very scary. We went to the hospital at 5am for pre op fun! I say that with so much sarcasm. I was scared. Scared, scared, scared! My back was basically going to be cut open and my spine held in place by rods and screws. I was so nervous that I cried and sat shaking in the hospital bed. My parents prayed over me. Thank God for praying parents!! They administered meds to knock me out for this 8 HOUR SURGERY!! Yes, 8 HOURS!! Can you understand why I was basically terrified?? Could you imagine the fear my parents had about what could potentially go wrong?? As a parent now, I cant imagine! They were so strong for me and showed no fear. God bless them!!

I’ll never forget feeling woozy as the meds kicked in. I kissed my parents and they wheeled me down the hall. My eyes closed and I was out of there. I woke up to the sound of my name and laying on my stomach. It took me a moment to realize where I was and what happened. Then the pain HIT ME!! There are no words to describe it. NONE AT ALL!! I screamed! There was so much pressure on my back and felt like I couldn’t breathe. I wanted my mom. I screamed for her. When she came in the room I felt better having her there. But, the pain was unbearable. I asked them to turn me over to my back. I felt like that would help. They did and it didn’t help at all! Thats all I really remember.

I was at the Children’s Hospital of Detroit for a week. They were AMAZING!! They took such good care of me and the food was DELISH!! Lol. My parents took shifts staying with me. One during the night, one during the day. What amazing parents! My church family came to visit me as well. I felt so loved and taken care of. Each day it got better, seriously! I had pain, but SO much better than the day of surgery. I was restricted to being home for a month along with no heavy lifting or excessive movement. Although my mom and I did make a trip to the mall. LOL. I saw my doctor a few times to make sure my back was healing properly. Things got better!

From what I recall, I went from an over 50 degree curvature to just under 20 degree!! A HUGE difference. You can still see the side of my shoulder that has a very slight hump. I’m ok with it!! This surgery changed my life!! My self confidence about what I wore and how I felt went through the roof. So even with my “battle scar,” I have no problem showing it. None AT ALL!! Its a small price to pay for something that was such a huge part of my life. That part of my back is still a bit numb from the surgery, even over 10 years later. Sometimes it feels a bit stiff, so I get massages to help with that. And who doesn’t like massages?!

Would I do the surgery again? YES, ABSOLUTELY!! The pain was a very small price to pay to not have that curvature anymore. Scoliosis impacted my life at a young age. Scoliosis is a very serious condition and shouldn’t be taken lightly. There is no cure for it either. As a parent, I will be checking Camille early to ensure she doesn’t have it too. I encourage any of you that may have Scoliosis or children who may have it, to see your doctor and discuss the best options. Surgery was the best option for me and I have no regrets!!

Sorry for this LONG post, but I felt it important to share my story. I cried typing this up. I thought of the day my mom saw the curve, the trips to see multiple doctors and the day of my surgery. But, it made me reflect and be SO thankful or my amazing parents. They were my strength during this time!! Oh, I cant forget to mention that my then “friend,” now husband, was on the phone with my parents while I was in surgery. Checking in for updates and making sure I was ok. LOL I guess I found out how much my “friend” cared, which was pretty amazing too!

Do you have scoliosis or know someone that does? I’d love to hear your story. If you have ANY questions, please comment below or email me. I have no problem sharing as you can see!

Its hot as heck here in Dallas! Lol. Which means I am constantly looking for comfortable, easy going dresses that are breathable and also has a little fun detail. This little black dress from SheIn meets all of the above requirements! I’ve worn it to the office, out to lunch or just running errands. From lace up sandals to platform heels, this dress scores in functionality and price! And guess what, its only $20!! I think with all the money you’re saving on this dress, buying a pair shoes, handbag or jewelry totally makes sense, right? Right!

So a little update on my weight loss challenge. Its now week 3 and I lost nothing my second week. Not even an inch! Its so disheartening not seeing any changes. I want a flat tummy like yesterday! This weekend I did have alcohol and cake as it was my friend birthday celebration. Its funny, after only two weeks of eating healthy my body seemed to have adjusted to my new eating habits. I noticed my body felt a hot mess the next day. No, I wasn’t hungover, but I just felt yucky. I plan to exercise a little bit harder this week and see what that gives me. Lets hope that helps! I aim to win!!

How do you like this off shoulder tunic? This blouse is from SheIn and is only $12!!!! I know lots of you had questions on my last SheIn blog post (here) about ordering from their site. So I figure this would be more of a review post to give you peace of mind about the site and what you should expect. So lets hop to it!!

Thoughts on this top:

Its long! Its tunic length, so it hit me mid thigh. I was expecting it to hit at the waist which would make it easier to throw on with anything like jeans, pencil skirt or maxi skirt. So it makes it a bit awkward styling wise on choosing how to wear it. I just decided to tuck it in and keep it moving.

Its lightweight material, but would still be hot during the summer. I wore this on a humid day and I was hot! The material is not cotton, so it doesn’t breathe very well. I would suggest wearing this on cool,breezy days so you’re not hot as heck 🙂 With 90 degree days hitting us in Texas, I may have to tuck this baby in the closet until cooler days.

The sleeves are gathered so it has that elastic at the end. Some folks may not like that, I don’t really have a problem with it.

Do I like it? Would I order it again?? Yes!!! I mean its only $12!! Again, its not a piece to wear in the dead heat of summer. Those of you who live in cooler climates would benefit the most out of this piece right now. But, come fall it will be getting a lot of wear!!

Thoughts on ordering from SheIn:

I know everyone is a little skeptical with ordering from a company overseas. I don’t blame you with some of the horror stories and pics I’ve seen on Facebook of people ordering one thing and getting a hot mess. I have not experienced that with SheIn! Everything I have received looks just like the picture! So no worries there!

READ THE REVIEWS!!!- I cannot stress this enough. I encourage you to do so because thats what I do before proceeding to order. The reviews give me peace of mind and also some feedback that I can apply to whether or not it will work for me. I haven’t ordered anything that doesn’t have a review. With that being said, I have only returned 2 pieces so far due to the fit/ material or I just didn’t like it on me. I think this is typical when you order online, so its to be expected!

It may take you a while to receive your items- It typically takes me a week or week and a half to receive my order. So plan accordingly!

Pay close attention to the “Description” section- this will tell you what type of material the product is made of, if there is stretch and sizing info. This will be very helpful in determining how the product will hang or drape on you, the fabric type, what size to order etc. I always make sure to review the size chart before selecting. So make sure to do that. Also, I find most pieces from SheIn to have thin material. So check out the description box to determine what its made of. If you equate quality with heaviness of the fabric, you may not get that with SheIn.

I hope this honest review helps. I know so many of you had reservations on what to expect and was unsure if you should order. So this should put some of those fears to rest. If you have any questions, please comment below or even email me. I’ll be happy to give you my two cents!

See you Sunday for my next post!!

Disclaimer: My honest reviews and opinions for items gifted to me are my own. I strive to provide honest feedback to my viewers. Gifted items are disclosed with “c/o.”

Spring has come and summer is almost here. I don’t know about you, but here in Dallas I want summer to stay far, far away lol. I think its important to continue to think of spring staples in our wardrobe.

You guys know I love Target right?! I mean, who doesn’t! On one of my MANY trips there I came across this GORGEOUS olive midi dressfor ONLY $30! You wouldn’t even think that its Target right? Well, it most certainly is! Stay Woke! Lol. This dress is a part of their “Who What Wear” collection. What is “Who What Wear?” Well, its an amazing online fashion magazine that features street style, celebrity fashion and so much more!! They actually collaborated with Target and have their very own collection thats in stores now. The pieces are very affordable, stylish and chic. I mean, a $30 midi dress that looks like $100? I’ll take it!